People are upset. Depressed. Angry. Despondent. Almost everyone I know is sick over this defeat. I too am upset that the global village idiot has yet again been elected. Not elected, no… he was actually promoted since he didn’t actually win the first office. Don’t misunderstand that for one minute. I’m upset and disappointed. It’s the cap on a 6 month long streak of terrible luck for me personally. But, then again, you make your own luck, don’t you?
However, with that said, I have a few more things to add.
1). I believe that the Democrats, could have won with Howard Dean. Yet, when he spoke of fundamental changes in democratic party philosophy they not only undermined him so as not to loose power, they marginalized him and used his “wave” of popularity to launch yet another party yes man. It was one of the saddest things I’ve ever witnessed in politics next to the complete abandonment of Dennis Kucinich. They chose control of party theology over electability and popular opinion. In doing so, they found a suitable “Anybody But Bush” candidate but, someone who obviously wasn’t “one of us.” Like Clinton and Dean appeared to be. Let’s face it, he was an upper-class lifelong politico and a treacherous attorney to boot. A billionaire with a job waiting for him if he failed. Do you have a backup plan? Somehow, they managed to find the one candidate that was more affluent and upper-class than Bush, who is from one of the most formidable families in the country. We are suprised now at the outcome? We got exactly what we deserved. We sacrificed the right candidate rather than change fundamental party philosophy, even if it meant loosing the election. Now, tell me again how this is a party that places people first?
2). Since Nader wasn’t even on the ballot in Ohio, so much for “The Nader Spoiler” warnings and pleadings from the Democrats. So much for the stunts that the Republicans pulled in fighting to keep Nader on the ballot and actually gathering signatures for him. This fully illustrates how utterly foolish both parties are when regarding third and fourth party politics. This will be the last time that I undermine my own voting conscience for a cause. I liked Ralph Naders messages and I liked the way that he challenged both parties as rotting from the same corporate corruption disease. He was right about almost all of the relevant issues, in my opinion, and I am turning to him for leadership in what I fear, will be the coming dark times for moderates and liberals. I wish I’d have listened to him and helped him like I did in 2000.
3). They actually allowed 11 states to ask the pointlessly untimely question of gay marriages on the same ballot as they asked people to choose their president. It was this polarization of the born-again Christians that ensured that they couldn’t have registered enough first-time, elderly and black voters in a 100 years to offset those numbers, 41% of all Americans. Since most people, despite what you or I may wish to believe, are appalled by the idea of gay anything, much less marriage, it made it awfully convenient to simply vote for Bush while they were at the polls doing Gods work. I heard about voters that hadn’t cast a ballot in 30 years whom were driven to the polls based on this. The lesson here is this, don’t push change down people’s throats, even if the change is good and proper. Civil rights and women’s rights movements failed for 100 years before they saw any success. The Equal Rights Ammendment never passed, remember? It was just too early, pure and simple. Was this distracting issue pushed to the forefront of a presidential election by “activist judges” or, was it really a Karl Rove plan? I opt for Karl Rove. Regardless, I feel it was pivotal.
4). Finally, there’s a matter of an over-used and yet ill thought out concept called “group think.” Democrats convinced themselves that they had the right man. They had the right strategy and that they had sufficient help and financial resources (group think). They convinced themselves that they would win the election based upon the fact that George Bush and Dick Cheney are simply who they are (more group think). Greedy incompentent underachievers as well as being complete corporate shills with feeding fear and making war on their minds (their group think). They convinced themselves that a reasonable and rational person would never elect these men into office again and the believed it. We all did. The Bush Bunch, by merely existing, proved to the Democrats (and all of us) what we already knew (yet more group think). However, like Michael Moore who did more than any liberal/Democrat to change the outcome of the election, they preached to the choir and they failed to convince those that mattered most… the fearful. The fearful evangelical Christian right, the ultimate example of effective group think to date. Which brings me to another point. I am hearing very open criticisms, hatred and disparaging comments being made about the religious right, which is completely absurd and I get very angry. Not a single Democrat or, ABB Republican had a problem with black ministers across this country driving votes. Those people were saying to their congregations, “Bush and Cheney are evil, they will never care about you. We must put down Evil. Go to the polls and do God’s work.” Everyone thought that was just fine, right and welcomed them into the fight agains Bush and the Republican machine. That kind of hatred and hypocrisy is turning my stomach and turning Democrats, moderates and liberals into what they hate most, which is hate for the sake of hate. I hope they stop it quick. One to three days of grief for a dead loved one and get on with life. Meanwhile, don’t say things you don’t mean in the process.
Now that Bush has been promoted, will be no need for reigning in policy and action? Is there any need for him to do any social good? Have corporations finally bought the ultimate blue-chip stake? Let’s hope that, now he has been given his impunity and has been legitimized as a rightful president in the world-view, he will handle the remaining four years of office as gracefully as past presidents have. Or, will it be like a bunch of frat boys at a toga party? We’ll be watching and I’ll be here, as I almost always have, telling you about it.
